Texas weather is unpredictable. In 2021, homes across Texas suffered from power outages, frozen water and plumbing, and frozen gutters. Every time there’s a freeze in Texas, we spend the next month repairing and replacing gutters. Some collapsed, some were damaged, and all it took were sub-freezing temperatures for 24 hours. Damage is preventable if you know the basics about how to stop gutters from freezing.
The lowest temperatures come in January and February, so there’s still time to prepare for storms. Today, let’s talk about what causes gutter freezing, take a look at the consequences, and explore solutions for prevention and repair.
What is the main cause of gutter freezing?
Gutters must remain free-flowing and clean throughout the year. Why? Because your gutters are the only system that prevents rain and precipitation from gathering on your roof. Gutters also divert rainwater away from your home’s foundation via a downspout. It’s the J-shaped piece that you see near ground level.
Downspout blockages are the leading cause of gutter freezing.
All precipitation must pass through downspouts. So, when we talk about gutter freezing, we’re also talking about blocked downspouts. Moving water takes longer to freeze than standing water. Blockages allow water to pool and mix with debris. Freezing temperatures take care of the rest.
What’s the cause, step-by-step?
- Freezing temperatures turn precipitation into sleet and ice.
- Solid ice or sleet begins to block downspouts.
- Drainage slows or stops.
- Rain or snow continues to fall, gathering in your gutters.
- Finally, water across your entire gutter system freezes, gathering ice, leaves, branches, and debris into a single, frozen mass.
That’s how it happens. So, here’s the takeaway: If there is standing water in your gutters, it will freeze as soon as temperatures drop below 32 degrees.
What kind of damage is caused by frozen gutters?
Typically, we see ice damage from blockages that extend from the gutters to the downspouts. In other cases, ice damage affects the gutters and roof.
Water expands when it freezes, pushing open the seams of sectional gutters and creating other cracks. Ice and snow are heavy, and excess weight from either can cause gutters to sag, gutter brackets to give in, and whole gutter systems to collapse.
Expect damages across your gutter system.
If you don’t know how to stop gutters from freezing, every part of your gutter system is at risk for damage.
- Ruptured downspouts must be removed and replaced.
- Gutters that crack, warp, or develop leaks must be either repaired or replaced.
- Roofing components, fascia, and other materials critical to roof integrity and appearance often sustain damage because gutters and downspouts are secured at these critical points and usually are torn free due to weight and material fatigue.
Note: Weak points such as end caps, corners, and connecting hardware are especially vulnerable to damage from snow and ice.
Remember that ice dams damage both gutters and roofs.
You may have heard of ice dams and seen evidence of ice dams in the form of icicles hanging from your roof. In this case, the gutter freezing starts at the top of your home (your roof) instead of the bottom (your downspout).
Here’s how ice dams form:
- Snow falls and settles on the roof, often freezing.
- Warm attic air heats the roof, melting the snow.
- The melted snow turns into water and flows to the gutters.
- The exposed water refreezes inside the gutter system.
- Ice dams form, along with other blockages.
- Water buildup occurs and damages the roof. Debris cannot be cleared.
For more information, take a look at another article I wrote on the connection between gutter function and roof health.
How to prevent frozen gutters: building techniques, materials, and additions.
Sometimes, it’s necessary to invest in maintenance and prevention to avoid much costlier investments in repair and replacement.
I’ll start with maintenance, move on to additions that contractors like Juno offer upon initial installation or seasonally, and then talk about more sophisticated systems.
- Regular gutter cleaning and inspection.
- Ensuring gutters are sloped to prevent standing water.
- Choosing the right materials.
- Installation of gutter guards.
- Emergency repair and maintenance.
Clean gutters before winter and before spring.
Our clients contact us at least two times per year for gutter inspection and cleaning.
While it’s possible to do this yourself, the work is hazardous. The risk of injury is high. Let’s just say it’s not rare for homeowners to fall off ladders. I respect a D.I.Y. mindset, but I’d encourage homeowners to assess the risk and costs of injury in comparison to the minor expenses associated with professionals who know how to stop gutters from freezing and have years of experience in maintenance and cleaning.
In cold-weather climates, leaves will fall in autumn, and fall leaf build-ups will lead to blockages if gutters are not cleaned and cleared of debris. At the very least, leaves and debris will decrease the speed of water draining out of your downspouts. Both problems may lead to ice dams in the winter. It’s much easier to clean the gutters out before winter than to try to melt an ice dam after it has formed.
Gutter slope is key to preventing blockages and freezing.
The best way to prevent standing water is to put it on a smooth surface that’s pointed (or sloped) toward the earth. It’s as simple as it sounds. We install gutters with a slope, sometimes referred to as “pitch,” so that water flows to the drainage point. For the majority of installations, the gutter slope “drops” around 3/8” every 10 feet.
Every home is different, so the slope could be as slight as 3/16” or as severe as 3/4”.
If you Google “gutter slope,” you’ll see this: “The general rule of thumb is a slope of “1/4 to 1/2“ of an inch per every 10 feet of gutter.” That’s just people copying and pasting the same information, but it’s not a bad rule of thumb to follow. Ultimately, when we talk about how to stop gutters from freezing and sustaining damage, we want a gutter slope that’s optimal for your home and your environment.
It’s critical to work with a contractor who prioritizes the slope of gutters in the context of the installation. In other words, if you ask about slope and don’t get a crystal clear answer, do not work with that contractor.
Choose the best gutter material for freezing temperatures.
Let’s look at vinyl for cost-efficiency and aluminum for quality.
Will vinyl gutters stand up to freezing?
Unfortunately, not for long.
Vinyl gutters are widespread and popular because they are a cost-effective material. I don’t want to call vinyl cheap, but let me say that vinyl is not the superior choice for durability. However, it is lightweight, resistant to rust, and flexible enough to withstand impacts from debris and stress from other types of weather events without denting.
However, vinyl has poor thermal performance because of its chemical composition and because it is thin and pliable. “Poor thermal performance” means vinyl loses and gains heat quickly. The result is that sharp changes in temperature can lead to cracks.
In the event of a gutter freeze, vinyl gutters must be cleared and inspected immediately. Even 48 hours of freezing can lead to bulging, distortions, and leaks.
Vinyl: Cost-effective but poor in icy conditions.
Are aluminum gutters the best material for freezing and blockages?
Yes, aluminum is rigid, rust-proof, and corrosion-proof. It is also more expensive.
Is the additional cost worth it in Texas? It’s worth considering, and some homeowners will happily trade additional costs for peace of mind.
Properly installed with heavy-duty hardware, an all-aluminum gutter system would, theoretically, be able to sustain a full freeze for months without sagging, warping, or distorting. It’s just too tough. (That doesn’t mean your roof and foundation would do as well.)
Aluminum: Costly but invulnerable to freezing.
Install a gutter guard for solid protection against debris build-up and blockages.
A guitar guard stops gutters from freezing the same way a water filter stops a person from drinking contaminated water. You may have seen these systems before: It looks like a roof over a home’s gutters, but unlike a roof, it’s thin and perforated with holes or slits small enough to prevent most debris from entering but large enough to allow water to flow in freely.
So, do they work? Yes, gutter guards are highly effective. Small debris is blocked entirely, though I’ve seen cases where large, pliable leaves have worked their way in. Cleaning is still necessary, but gutter guards will absolutely stop ice dams in Texas.
Do I need a gutter guard in Texas?
If your home is surrounded by tall trees and buried in leaves in the autumn, I’d recommend a gutter guard as a line of defense to stop gutters from freezing.
According to Angie’s List, “Gutter guards cost $1,511 on average, but the cost ranges between $651 and $2,459 for most homeowners, depending on their type and length.”
That’s about right, and there are many common-sense options for reducing that price. I wish I could say that Juno Construction could install such an effective system for a fraction of the cost, but I can’t and won’t. Whoever tries to sell you premium work and materials at bargain prices is full of it.
How to fix frozen gutters in Texas.
So, the freeze has happened. You’re not sure when you cleaned your gutters, but you can see that there’s no drainage, the downspout is frozen solid, and there’s some sagging in the gutters.
A guide to fixing frozen gutters the wrong way.
This is the wrong way. But, if you absolutely have to take care of it alone, which I advise against, here’s what you need:
- A heat gun.
- A crowbar or small shovel
- A tall ladder
- A safety harness
- A great health insurance plan
Be careful when resting the ladder against the gutters. If they have not been maintained or well-secured, the weight of the ladder could break them. At that point, you’d need to give us a call.
- Carefully apply heat to the bottom and sides of your gutters.
- Be careful not to overheat them, as this could cause discoloration and warping in certain materials.
- Use your crowbar or trowel to slowly separate the ice and leaves from the gutter.
- Gently break apart the ice into manageable pieces.
- Pull them out just like a brick.
- Move on to the next area.
Repeat that process about 50 times.
Want to prevent or fix frozen gutters the right way?
Same scenario. Here’s what you need:
- A phone
Here are the steps:
- Call us.
- Get a free quote.
It takes only one phone and ten minutes to get me and my team out to your property the same day you call.
Happy Holidays!
– Carlos Rivero, Owner & Operator
Juno Construction Group, LLC
